Investigation of Quiet Quitting and Burnout Levels Among Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Students: A Descriptive and Correlational Study

Background/Objectives: Quiet quitting is characterized by reduced commitment and reluctance to exceed expected role responsibilities, whereas burnout reflects the depletion of emotional resources due to work and educational demands. This study aimed to examine the relationship between quiet quitting and burnout among Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation (PTR) students and to determine whether these variables differ by gender, grade level, reason for choosing the program, and program satisfaction. Methods: A total of 225 students participated in this descriptive and cross-sectional study. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Quiet Quitting Scale (QQS), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory—Student Form (MBI-SF). The data were analyzed using nonparametric statistical methods with the SPSS 27.0 software. Results: The mean QQS total score was 48.14 ± 9.80. The mean scores for the MBI-SF dimensions were 14.27 ± 4.66 for Exhaustion, 9.89 ± 3.65 for Cynicism, and 11.28 ± 2.98 for Professional Efficacy. QQS scores differed significantly according to grade level and reason for choosing the programme, whereas gender differences were observed only in the Self-Protection subscale (p < 0.05). MBI-SF dimensions did not differ according to gender, grade level, reason for choosing the programme, or programme satisfaction (p > 0.05). “Exhaustion” and “Cynicism” were positively correlated with QQS subscale and total scores (r = 0.307–0.639, all p < 0.001). The MBI-SF “Professional Efficacy” subscale showed a weak correlation with QQS “Lack of Motivation” (r = 0.143, p = 0.032). Conclusions: Quiet quitting and burnout were significantly associated among PTR students, with the strength of this relationship varying across burnout dimensions. These findings extend the limited evidence on these constructs in physiotherapy education and support further investigation of their academic and psychosocial context.