ObjectiveTo systematically review the correlation between sleep quality and social support of the elderly.MethodsDatabases including PubMed, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, Springerlink, ProQuest, CMB, CNKI, VIP, and WanFang Data were searched to collect studies on the correlation between sleep quality and social support of the elderly from January 1996 to January 2020. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and evaluated risk of bias of included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of 9 studies involving 2 427 elderly people were included. The meta-analysis showed that the combined correlation coefficient between sleep quality and social support was -0.40 (95%CI −0.54 to −0.26). The correlation between sleep quality and social support of the elderly varied with the year of publication and sample size, however without regular change. The correlation coefficient of the elderly from institutions (hospital or pension institutions) was higher than that of the community (−0.33 vs. −0.26); the correlation coefficient of the elderly with health problems was higher than those without health problems (−0.32 vs. −0.25); the results measured by non-random sampling method were higher than those measured by random sampling (−0.37 vs. −0.23); and the results measured by Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and social support rating scale (SSRS) were higher than those measured by PSQI and perceived social support scale (PSSS) (−0.30 vs. −0.13).ConclusionsThe higher the level of social support of the elderly in China, the lower the score of PSQI, and the better the sleep quality, in which there are differences in different sample sources and physical conditions.