Physiotherapy students' perceptions of managing patients with mental illness: A qualitative exploration at a South African university.

Depression and occupational burnout are prevalent and interrelated forms of psychological distress in working-age populations (Tóth‐Király et al., ). While depression reflects broader emotional dysfunction, burnout is a work-related phenomenon characterised by exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced professional efficacy (Maslach et al., ; Tolentino & Schmidt, ; WHO, ). Growing evidence links depression and burnout to disturbances in health behaviours (e.g. Firth et al., ; Hanson et al., ; Mincarone et al., ; Penttinen et al., ). More specifically, research has shown that depression is associated with maladaptive eating patterns, particularly emotional and uncontrolled eating (Konttinen et al., ; Paans et al., ), while evidence on burnout suggests similar but less studied associations (Nevanperä et al., ). Physical activity, in turn, appears to be inversely and bidirectionally associated with depression and is also linked to burnout symptoms (Schuch et al., ; Shoman et al., ; Zhang et al., ). Individuals with obesity represent a particularly important population for examining the interplay between psychological distress and health behaviours. Obesity is associated with higher rates of depressive symptoms, emotional eating, reduced physical activity, and difficulties maintaining long-term behavioural change (Avila et al., ; Benbaibeche et al., ; Nordmo et al., ; Silveira et al., ). Emerging evidence also suggests that occupational burnout may contribute to obesity development and weight gain through stress-related behavioural pathways (Kremers et al., ; Tomiyama, ). These relationships are especially relevant in occupational health settings, where obesity, mental well-being, work ability, and productivity are closely intertwined.