The objective of the present study was to examine the correlation between education and envy, and consequently, to ascertain the existence of statistically significant disparities among groups of women and men with varying educational backgrounds.The research is founded on data obtained from 902 women and 867 men who responded to an open-ended inquiry regarding the aspects of the opposite sex they envy. Their responses were subjected to qualitative analysis and subsequently categorised into 34 superordinate categories. The respondents were divided into four educational groups: elementary education; secondary school education without a high school diploma or without a certificate of education; secondary education with a high school diploma; university education.

Statistical analysis was performed using the χ² (Chi-square test) with the corresponding Cramer's V and contingency coefficient C. The results demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference between the male education groups (χ²(78) = 70.13, p = 0.725, V = 0.240, C = 0.384). A parallel set of results was obtained for the female sample, where there was also no statistically significant difference between education groups tied to objects of envy (χ²(63) = 50.22, p = 0.878, V = 0.192, C = 0.315). Conversely, when all education groups of males and females were considered collectively, statistical significance related to gender was identified (χ²(231) = 502.11, p < 0.001, V = 0.289, C = 0.607), signifying a moderately strong association between gender and envy categories. Monte Carlo simulation confirmed statistical significance with a p-value of 0.0001, thereby allowing the rejection of the null hypothesis of independence of educational groups between sexes.

The findings of the study indicate that educational attainment does not serve as a protective factor against envy among women; rather, envy levels among women exhibit an upward trend with increasing educational levels. In contrast, no significant disparities in envy experiences were observed among men based on their educational backgrounds. However, a discernible distinction emerged in the objects of envy preference between men and women. Notably, educational level did not influence these preferences, suggesting that both men and women experience envy towards similar objects irrespective of their educational distinctions. The predominant factor influencing these differences is gender, with the phenomenon of ablative envy, characterised by envy towards the loss or impossibility of achieving certain benefits rather than the desire to possess what another has, also being detected. A notable finding is that, irrespective of educational attainment, envy persists; gender, rather than educational level, emerges as the pivotal factor influencing the extent and nature of envy.

Keywords: Envy, sex difference, protective factor, education comparison.