Impact of Cell Phone Use as a Virtual Intelligence Device on Social Relationships and Quality of Life in Medical Students Residing in Dormitories

Abstract

Background: Cell phones, as a type of virtual intelligence device, have become an integral part of daily life and influence many aspects of human behavior. Excessive use, however, may lead to cell phone addiction, which may negatively affect social relationships and quality of life, especially among medical students. This study aims to compare the social relationships and quality of life of medical students residing in dormitories with different levels of cell phone addiction. Methods: This analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted on 380 medical students residing in the dormitories of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using the WHO Quality of Life Scale, the Social Relationship Quality Scale, and the Cell Phone Addiction Scale. The students were divided into three groups: moderate users, high users, and addicted users. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS using ANOVA and LSD test to examine differences among groups with varying levels of cell phone addiction. Results: This study showed that medical students with moderate cell phone use reported significantly better social relationships compared to those with high use (Mean difference = 2.12, p = 0.04) and those classified as addicted (Mean difference = 2.67, p = 0.009). Family intimacy and commitment also had the highest mean scores among students with moderate cell phone use compared to high-use and addicted groups. However, no significant differences were observed among the groups regarding quality of life (F = 0.05, p = 0.94). Conclusion: The findings suggest that moderate use of cell phones as virtual intelligence devices is associated with better social relationships among medical students compared to high use or addiction. In particular, family intimacy and commitment were highest in the moderate-use group, indicating that balanced interaction with these intelligent devices may support social connectedness. Excessive use or addiction, however, may interfere with social engagement despite the advanced capabilities of these devices. No significant impact on overall quality of life was observed, highlighting that the social benefits of moderate use are more pronounced than its influence on broader well-being.