I do think most elite level (professional) athletes were coddled, especially in the early years.
I do believe it can make life away from sports a bit challenging for them.
I do not believe they all struggle and act out as a result.
Obviously most transition well.
I certainly don't doubt you, and as we both know, being spoiled and coddled isn't limited to elite professional athletes, either.
There is a transition period not just for athletes, but for other professions as well. At my former place of employment, we once had a QA manager that was a captain fresh out of the Marine Corps, and I swore that he actually expected his subordinates to salute him as we would walk past him. He also had a difficult time in meetings when there were give-and-take arguments. When you're in a life-or-death situation in the Marines, time is of the essence, and you don't want your subordinates arguing with an officer. You say
"Yes, sir!" and charge up the hill. That kind of conditioning is hard for some people to get out of their system.
I can imagine that it can be difficult for some professional athletes to make that transition to what you and me would refer to as
"the real world." I've just never experienced one first hand.