Midlife women are flourishing compared with men. Despite the daily gloom of economic predictions, women in midlife are more optimistic about their lives and futures than men are.

25% of women ages 45 to 55 give themselves a 10 out of 10 on optimism about their future, finds a Gallup-Healthways daily poll of Americans' well-being.

It may be key that the most optimistic women spend about six hours a day in social interaction.

(READ the story in USA Today)